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British Bookmakers Set to Make Record Contribution for Rights to Show Horse Racing
British bookmakers are on track to make a record contribution to horse racing next year – with the bill for media rights forecast to increase by nearly £30m.
The Betting and Gaming Council’s five biggest members for horse race betting, Entain, Flutter, bet365, 888/William Hill and Betfred, expect to see a record cost increase to broadcast races.
In 2022, BGC members paid £270.1m for the rights to live stream races for customers and show them in bookmakers.
But that cost is forecast to rise to £285.3m this year, an increase of 5.6%, with members estimating a further increase to £315.2m in 2024, a further bump of 10.5%.
The combined increase for media rights costs is now expected to rise by 16.7% between 2022 and 2024.
The figures are based on data supplied by the Betting and Gaming Council’s five biggest members for horse race betting, then adjusted to include smaller operators, who must also pay for media rights.
Michael Dugher, CEO of Betting and Gaming Council, said: “BGC members are already making a record contribution to horse racing and these figures show that is only going to increase.
“This comes despite a reduction in betting turnover on racing in the last five years and a worrying decline in participation in horse race betting overall.
“Horse racing remains a hugely important, world-leading sport, enjoyed by millions of fans and like the betting industry it continues to support large numbers of jobs.
“I know racing is trying to modernise and reach out to new fans, while also trying to bounce back from the Covid pandemic and deal with some difficult economic headwinds, plus deal with the hit on its funding caused by the Government. The betting industry is dealing with many of the same pressures on our revenues and costs.
“The BGC and our members remain fully committed to working together with the leadership of the sport, including the BHA and others, to ensure a better future for racing. But the fact that we are making a record and growing contribution to the sport cannot be ignored.”
The forecast costs come after the BGC announced their members directly contributed £384m to British horse racing last year in levy, media rights and sponsorship deals.
These figures showed an increase on previous estimates for the regulated sector’s contribution, which had placed it at around £350m a year.
In addition, bookmakers spent £125m on marketing to promote racing and betting through advertisements and partnerships, which helps secure vital terrestrial coverage of the sport and raise revenue for print newspaper titles.
As well as the increased costs for media rights, levy payments are projected to be £99m in 2022/2023, according to the Horserace Betting Levy Board.
This record investment also enabled horse racing to use some of these revenues to deliver record prize money of £179.3m in 2022.
Horse racing is the second biggest sport in the UK, second only to football, with more than five million people attending around 1400 fixtures annually across 59 racecourses.
However, its popularity is in decline. In 2007, 17% of the population participated in horse race betting in the previous year, but that fell to 10% in 2018.
Meanwhile football overtook horse racing betting around the same time between 2017/2018.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has committed to reviewing the Horseracing Levy by next year.
The Horseracing Levy, which is administered by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, goes towards improving the sport, breeding and boosting veterinary care.
Betting operators are working closely with the British Horseracing Authority and racing stakeholders on much needed reforms to the fixture list and race programme which should increase commercial returns from the levy and media rights.
The regulated betting industry fully supports this once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernise horse racing so it can realise its full commercial potential.
The BGC is also working closely with the government on the proposed reforms from the White Paper to ensure those who enjoy betting can continue to do so without unnecessary intrusion, while introducing improved safeguards for the minority who struggle.
Betting shops currently support around 42,000 jobs, contribute £1bn a year in tax to the Treasury and another £60m in business rates to local councils.
The wider regulated betting and gaming industry contributes £7.1bn to the economy, generates £4.2bn in tax and supports 110,000 jobs.
In April DCMS unveiled the Government’s new White Paper on gambling reform, including a number of key measures the BGC had campaigned for.
Those included a new mandatory Ombudsman for the regulated sector, enhanced spending checks online and a new mandatory levy to fund research, education and treatment to tackle gambling related harm and problem gambling.
Each month in Great Britain around 22.5m adults have a bet and the most recent Health Survey for England estimated that 0.4% of the adult population are problem gamblers.
Meanwhile the unsafe, unregulated gambling black market online is growing in the UK, with the numbers betting on these sites doubling in recent years, and the amount staked in the billions.
Alex Baliukonis Game Producer at BGaming
BGaming releases Frenzy Clusters slot with expanding grid feature
New cluster-pay title includes five character companions, Free Spins with progressive multipliers, and a ×10,000 max win at 97.11% RTP.
BGaming has released a new slot, Frenzy Clusters, adding another #Entertainment title to its portfolio. The game uses a cluster-pay mechanic and an expanding grid, with BGaming stating a maximum win of ×10,000 and an RTP of 97.11%.
Frenzy Clusters is built around five selectable character companions—Golub, Hugo, Bloke, Aussie, and Olaf—each positioned as culturally inspired. BGaming says the character choice does not affect outcomes, but characters react to wins with animations and interact with events on the reels.
Gameplay runs on a grid with blocked edge cells that can be unlocked by landing winning clusters next to them, expanding the play area. After wins, the game can trigger one of three random symbol effects: Rockets (clear a horizontal line), Books (clear a 3×3 area), and Spheres (remove all instances of the same symbol). BGaming says grid expansions last one spin in the base game and persist for the duration of the bonus round.
The Free Spins feature is triggered by three or more Scatters. BGaming says the bonus includes a progressive multiplier based on the number of Scatters, with no limit, and that players can access the bonus via Buy Bonus options or use a Chance feature to increase trigger probability.
Alex Baliukonis, Game Producer at BGaming, said, “At BGaming, we encourage our design team to get as creative as possible, and titles like Frenzy Clusters are the kind of magic they deliver.
This is one of our most imaginative titles to date, with each of the game’s five characters being designed to appeal to different players. Fantasy roleplay fans will definitely spot plenty of references in the game, with the team pulling inspiration from some of their favorite campaigns, and we have also been inspired by other popular culture stories.
The game goes beyond its aesthetic appeal, offering some big wins and a creative twist on the popular cluster-play dynamic, with the expanding grid providing the kind of engagement and progressive action that is tailor-made for streamers.”
The post BGaming releases Frenzy Clusters slot with expanding grid feature appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Climb Time Mummy Cash Uncovered
Games Global and High Limit Studio launch Climb Time Mummy Cash Uncovered
Egyptian-themed slot adds Climb Time progression, Guaranteed Wild Meter and a Bonus Booster Wheel with rewards up to 6,250x.
Games Global has launched Climb Time Mummy Cash Uncovered
in partnership with exclusive studio partner High Limit Studio. The new Egyptian-themed 5×3 slot adds feature progression, hidden prize reveals and a bonus wheel, with the company stating maximum rewards of up to 6,250x.
At the core is the Cash Uncovered mechanic, triggered by landing a Mummy or Wild symbol on every reel. When activated, the feature reveals hidden prizes on Wild symbols and awards all displayed values simultaneously.
The title uses the Climb Time progression system to unlock upgrades through play, including Random Wilds, the Bonus Booster Wheel and enhanced Mummy symbols. As players progress, four mummy modifiers are added to reel one: Hot Spin Mummy (prizes up to 1,250x), Boost Mummy (increases prizes up to 15x), Collect Mummy (gathers values up to three times) and Multiply Mummy (multipliers up to 10x).
A Guaranteed Wild Meter tracks Random Wilds landing on reels two to five during the base game. If a spin results in no win, the symbols are collected to build the meter. Landing three bell scatters awards 10 Free Spins, played with the number of Guaranteed Wilds accumulated. Coin symbols also feed a Treasure Pot that can randomly activate a Wheel Bonus.
High Limit Studio Creative Director Adrian Wotton said: “The Egyptian theme was a natural fit for the Cash Uncovered mechanic and gave us the opportunity to approach the concept from a different angle. Combined with the Guaranteed Wild Meter and enhanced mummy features, we’ve introduced new layers to the experience while staying true to what made the original title so popular.”
Games Global Director of Games Strategy and Partner Management Dave Reynolds added: “Climb Time Joker Cash Uncovered proved how well this mechanic resonates with players, and this release gives operators a follow-up that builds on that success. High Limit Studio has layered in feature progression and the Guaranteed Wild Meter to deepen the experience – evolving a concept players already know into something with even broader appeal.”
The post Games Global and High Limit Studio launch Climb Time Mummy Cash Uncovered appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
2RBO Affiliates is proud to announce that ToonieBet, an iGaming brand featured within its portfolio, has been named the Exclusive and Official iGaming Partner of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. This partnership brings the Tigers’ spirit to the digital world, uniting a leading gaming platform with one of the most iconic and battle-tested teams in the Canadian Football League.
The collaboration marks a massive leap in ToonieBet’s expansion across the Canadian market, strengthening its position among a highly engaged sports audience. For affiliates, this is a call to sharpen the claws and prepare for a massive hunt for high-intent traffic and record-breaking conversions. By aligning with a club that defines grit and history, ToonieBet provides partners with direct access to a loyal fanbase where the passion for the play is unmatched and engagement extends far beyond the final whistle.
Through this alliance, affiliates gain access to premium traffic fueled by a dedicated sports community. By tapping into localized campaigns and sports-led activations, partners can expect optimized conversion funnels and stronger retention. This synergy ensures superior player LTV from a fanbase that lives and breathes the black-and-gold.
Aviv, Head of 2RBO Affiliates, highlighted the strategic value of this collaboration for affiliates:
“Partnering with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats allows us to engage with a football culture driven by loyalty, tradition, and a deeply engaged сommunity. For affiliates, this unlocks strong opportunities to connect with high-intent audiences, build campaigns around key fixtures in the season, and drive more consistent, long-term performance within the Canadian Football League ecosystem.”
“We are thrilled to welcome ToonieBet to the family as the Exclusive and Official iGaming Partner,” stated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Press Office. “This partnership strengthens the connection between our club, our fans, and the wider digital world that surrounds the game. Together, we’re bringing new energy to the fan experience—creating exciting ways to engage, celebrate every moment of the season, and stay closer to the action. It’s time to ‘eat ’em raw’ together!
Ready to make every game count? Drive traffic to ToonieBet and turn player engagement into consistent revenue!
About ToonieBet
ToonieBet is a sports-oriented brand with casino and sportsbook features powered by exciting gamification. Players can play a thousand games and bet on sports events hunting for trophies and collecting cups for incredible prizes and generous bonuses.
About 2RBO Affiliates
2RBO Affiliates is a high-performance affiliate programme representing numerous iGaming brands. Built on an advanced platform, the programme combines modern gamification features, flexible commission models, and a no negative carryover policy to help maximise partner profitability. With transparent reporting, innovative tracking tools, and a strong focus on partner support and compliance, 2RBO Affiliates delivers scalable growth and long-term collaboration across competitive markets.
About Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger‑Cats are a Canadian Football League (CFL) team based in Hamilton, Ontario. The club traces its roots to 1869, accumulating 15 Grey Cup titles, making it one of the most successful and storied football teams in Canada. A pillar of the local sports scene and owned by Hamilton Sports Group, the Tiger‑Cats are known for their longstanding tradition of excellence, both on the field and in the community through local initiatives.
The post ToonieBet Named Exclusive iGaming Partner of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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